Intra-Afghan peace talks in Doha continued apace, but were marred by reports of heavy fighting in Kabul and in Nangarhar Province. At least 32 Afghan security forces were killed, and another 25 wounded in the course of 24 hours.
Another 30 Taliban were reported to have died in the fighting, including at least one “key commander” named Mullah Sangeen. Officials accused Sangeen of being behind a series of terror attacks in the capital city.
All of this adds up to a lot of fighting, some of the worst in the week of peace talks. It is also leading to another new push for a nationwide ceasefire. The Afghan government is pushing hard to sell the Taliban on the idea.
So far the Taliban hasn’t spoken a lot about it, but Afghan negotiator Abdullah Abdullah ssuggested that he’d offer more prisoner releases if the Taliban agreed. That would be a big get for the Taliban this early in the talks, while securing a nationwide ceasefire would be a big boost for the overall process.
That’s probably why they’ve been so reticent to make big offers to the Taliban for the ceasefire, because it realistically benefits both sides. Now that a possible exchange has been mentioned, however, expect the Taliban to resist until they get something out of the deal.
The whole objective is to dangle the prospect of ending this forever-war — is for Trump to weather the elections. Then slowly, business as usual. So many businesses have earned retirements on $2,000 coffee makers, and other pricey supplies.
Trump or Biden — nothing changes. Neither will want to pull out and leave Afghanistan to the regional constellation of China, Iran,Russia and Pakistan to manage. With Pakistan being drawn increasingly into China-Russia orbit, US may stay there simply to prevent any intra-Afghan settlement.
Rare Earth. Rare Earth. A lot of it in Afghanistan. Everybody wants it. Nobody wants to help the Afghans dig it, process it and sell it with profits going to Afghanistan. A few thousand casualties of nonAfghans are a cheap price for Rare Earth. (Afghan casualties don’t count). India, China, Pakistan, and the US are going to keep this all going by proxy for a long long time. US takes out Iran, Pakistan will be knocked out of the picture by invasions from the east and the west. The future is in Rare Earth, and in the weapons needed to get it and secure it. Rare Earth.
the taliban will win and the “educated” Afghan women will end up in Britiain Canada and the US, writing memoirs and teaching at Bennington, McGill and Cambridge. They will also practice medicine in Toronto, NY and London, thanking their secular spirit that they don’t have to work in some clinic in Helmand and do something for untreated Pashto children.
Now that we have that out of the way, can we get the damn CIA and special forces out of Afghanistan and whatever nooks and crannies of Pakistan, Tajikistan, or Kazakistan in which they lurk?